Richard Detrich’s Boquete, Panama Weblog

As I wing my way home to Panama, I’d like to share with you a neat picture that Ron Hagedorn sent me, taken on the VOLENDAM early in the morning as we entered the Panama Canal.   Thanks Ron, and thanks to all of you who had good things to say in person, on your onboard comment cards and on CruiseCritic.com about the Exploration Lectures Captain Sarah Terry and I presented on the VOLENDAM.   It was great fun!

For those of who who weren’t with us on the VOLENDAM, a word about the shirt.  I usually wear my Barack/Wolf Blitzer black suit when I lecture, but the day before the Canal I show up to lecture in this wild orange and blue shirt.  I explain that Panama is the end of the line for clothing that does not sell in the US, and that no Panamanian macho man would ever be caught dead in a flowered shirt, making these shirts a good deal for old gringos like me.  This particular shirt, Nautica with the Nordstrom price tag still on it, cost me $1.50!  I wear it on Canal day so people can easily spot me on deck and ask all their questions about the Canal.  I have been offered as much as $4.75 for it!  The folks from Park West Art Auctions have tried to steal it to auction it off at the Art Auctions, but I have successfully fended off their efforts.

Anyhow, it makes for a fun day in the Canal and lots of interaction with cruise guests!   Early morning as the sun comes up and we make our way into the first set of locks is always a very special time on board ship.

See you in Panama!

Wow!  What a kid and what fun to bond with Rian Patrick, my first grandchild!  I can’t wait for him to come to visit us in Panama and go exploring for bugs and snakes and chase our dogs and chickens!  Tomorrow it’s back home to Panama.  Today it’s trying to squeeze all the stuff into my luggage and stay under the weight limits.

* * * * *

Yesterday I told you about my miserable experience at the local Home Depot.  One of the things that sets exceptional companies apart from mediocre companies on the Internet is that exceptional companies aren’t content just to put up a neat Web site, but they take the additional step of monitoring what is being said about them online and taking proactive customer service steps.  When I was director of eCommerce for 24 Hour Fitness I read every comment I could find in chat rooms and bulletin boards (it was BB - “before blogs”).  It helped us understand our customers and also head off and deal with problems at local stores which may have otherwise taken weeks or months to filter up the chain of command.  So KUDOS TO HOME DEPOT’S Internet monitoring staff: within 5 hours of publishing my post I received the following email exchange.

Richard – I read about your experience in one of our Seattle stores. I work for The Home Depot and am disappointed to hear about your visit. We would like to speak with you directly about your observations to make sure that we address them swiftly and appropriately. Would you mind providing a phone number and a convenient time to speak with you? Sarah, Home Depot Communications information@homedepot.com

Sarah, WOW! I am impressed . . . what I neglected to mention is that I had checked out on the Home Depot Web site some chandelier black shades which I needed to pick up. The Web site indicated they were available in this store . . . I found one cluttered in with a bunch of other stuff. Kudos for contacting me . . . I’m at my daughters and phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. . . I’m in and out but you do get credit for contacting me and I’d be glad to share anything futher via email. Regards, Richard

So Kudos to Sarah and her team. Now, the real test will to see if there is actually any attempt at follow up. My visit to Home Depot in Seattle was still disappointing, but I will keep the bumper sticker!

Home Depot is one of the things I’ve missed most since moving to Panama. I’m the only guy in Boquete with a “Home Depot: My Toy Store” bumper sticker on my pick up truck! So, while in Seattle one of the things I was most looking forward to was visiting Home Depot. I had to pick up a saw blade unavailable in Panama and hoped to find some dahlias and glad bulbs. So I visited the Seattle store on Delridge Way. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!

The first thing I noticed, especially since I was pushing a baby stroller, is that 20% of the aisles were blocked! No wheelchair could have gotten through in an emergency or to shop and people had to climb over or go around. Merchandise was strewn around. The display of bulbs was ripped though, most packages were torn, missing stuff, or in the wrong bins. Paint cans had obviously dumped onto the floor in the paint department. Now I know it was Monday, but unless Seattle had a weekend earthquake or tornado, not even the sloppiest of customers could account for the mess!

The second thing I noticed was the almost complete absence of orange aprons! I walked through 4 departments looking for anybody and found only one guy up to his elbows in paint. The front desk found me someone to help me with my saw blade and he told me he had another customer, then had his break, but if I wanted to hang around for 20 minutes he would try and get back! The electronic part finder gizmo didn’t work, so I spent 30 minutes rummaging through saw blades, all in the wrong bins, trying to find, hopefully what I need. This was not the Home Depot I remembered! What always set Home Depot apart was helpful, knowledgeable staff with experience.

The one bright spot was the appliance section where there were real people who were real helpful. They seemed to be the only staff in the store!

Checking out was equally frustrating. I fondly remembered the long lines . . . here there were just automated check outs . . . which didn’t work. The two people manning the area were deep in conversation totally ignoring my pleas for help. A supervisor looking like a prison guard stood staring into space. When I asked her if anyone was working she told me, “We’re ALL working. What is your problem?” She found an underling who kicked the machine a few times and got it to work. He at least was apologetic and friendly. Then . . . naturally . . . as I was walking through the exit doors all kinds of red lights, and horns and sirens started blaring. I just ignored it all and calmly walked my car, commenting to another customer, “Man, am I glad I dumped my Home Depot stock!”

Amen to the Hortin’s letter above. We left a similar note with Holland America. The presentations given by the two of you as well as a couple of conversations with Craig have indeed made the Volendam canal trip one of our most memorable experiences.

I’ll be keeping your blog at the top of my “bookmarks” column for some time to come, and hope to cross paths again someday.

I’ll try to share some pix when we return to WA. Thanks again, best regards, Ron & Sharon Hagedorn

Thank you Ron and Sharon! Glad you had a great cruise!

Hey Richard. Your cruise is slowly coming to an end. Are you going to pass by Fort Lauderdale again? Maybe we could meet for a short while. We are packing and hope to leave for Panama on or about the 15th of May. Here are some more questions which you most likely could answer.

How potable is the water in Boquete or Valle de Anton? Should we bring some kind of filtration system with us?

How come that nobody seems to have a back-up electrical generator? We depend on uninterrupted electrical service and I would appreciate you giving me your opinion about this topic. Should I bring a 6KW to 10 KW generator with us?

Did you have any problems when bringing in your belongings on the trailer? I have read a number of blocks where people’s trailer had been broken into. What safeguards should we take?

We have been offered a 3/3 in el Valle. The owner is also a doctor. It is the right size for us and sits on a relatively large piece of property. It has a gardener and a once a week cleaning lady included. The price is $1,500 p.m. Is that a good deal?

In all the S.A. countries I have been I never found a butcher who knew how to cut meat our way. They only had “carne o suave”. It always gave the impression that the animals where killed twice. How is the situation in Panama?

Is soy milk and coffee creamer available?

What else do you think we should bring with us now.

Enjoy the cruise, looking forward of meeting you in person. With best wishes and God bless, Sid

Hi Sid. Last question, first. What “else” should you bring? A sense of adventure and flexibility!!! You will NOT find a butcher to your liking . . .and you’ll probably find a lot else that is different and frustrating! Learn to go with the flow, relax, chill and enjoy. Everything will happen . . . eventually . . . just not on your time table. Since you are a MD one word of advice: “Delete ‘STAT’ from you vocabulary!”

Water is generally OK to drink, but to be on the safe side, at least initially, I would boil. My tummy is more sensitive than my wife’s, so I boil, she doesn’t. Our new house will have a reverse osmosis system.

Some folks have back up generators, some very sophisticated and automatic. Power goes on and off, but generally only for a few moments, at least in Boquete.

We had no problem shipping our stuff down. Get a reliable shipper, not necessarily the cheapest. The guy who clears customs for you should also travel with your container to your final destination. We had a baby grand piano boxed up and it was the last on, so it was virtually impossible for anyone, including customs, to get by it without a forklift. A friend of ours had a lot of stuff taken, but he suspects it was actually stolen in LA.

Soy milk, creamer, etc., is available at Price Smart, Reys and the big supermarkets. Sometimes things will be out of stock for a while, but generally most things are available. Again . . . sense of adventure . . . and realizing it’s not going to be the same. You’re doing the right thing coming down and renting for a while to check it out. I have no idea of rents in El Valle. It doesn’t sound bad for Valle Escondido in Boquete, but again, I don’t know El Valle.

Good luck, and I hope we meet in Boquete!

I’ve been reading your site. I have been trying to find out how to apply for a chaplain’s position for a cruise line without any success. Can you give me any advice? Thanks, Dave Gale

Holland America generally always has a priest on board, rabbi for holidays, and a Protestant minister when the ship is at sea on a Sunday. Here’s the link for contact http://www.hollandamericaentertainment.com/jobdescriptions/clergy.asp Sixth Star is another possibility, although they mostly seem to have openings for priests. www.sixthstar.com/index.php

Richard, I got your e-mail from one of the Panama webs that I was searching yesterday. My wife and I are going to be in Panama between May 24th (arriving at 11AM) and May 27th (leaving late morning). We were planning to do the Canal Transit tour, but I noticed that all tours are only on Sat. and they start at 9AM, so there is no way that we can make it. I was wondering if you are aware of any other tours that we could take at the Canal either on May 25th or 26th? Because what is the fun going to Panama and not visiting the Panama Canal right??? Any other additional information that you may have related to other tours (CASCO VIEJO, Palace das Garças, MIRAFLORES, Albrook Mall) will be greatly appreciated. Please let me know your thoughts whenever you get a chance.

Most of the hotels can hook you up with daily tours. Folks on www.cruisecritic.com seem to have a lot to say about Mario’s tours, although I have no personal experience. Depending on the time of year there are really neat tours to the Embera village. Click on Cruising Q&A above for info.

I recently moved to Panama City and also noticed HSBC took 3% to withdraw. Have you found any alternative options? Regards, Al

What Al’s referring to is that we had our pensions deposited in our HSBC account in the US and then for about a year were able to just withdraw from our local Panama HSBC ATM . . . until HSBC started charging 3% to take out my own money!!! My alternative . . . move to another bank!!

Hi Richard, I got your e-mail from the website cruise critics and as a result of reading the posts, etc. my daughter and I would absolutely love to visit the Embera Village while in Panama . I was able to find two tours which offer this experience and have confirmed that it is the Authentic village. The first Myfriendmario is the least expenses (he already has people booked for this excursion from the Liberty on the dates we are there) … also provides insurance should be miss the ship (although this has never happened). But I have also been in contact with Anne who you had mentioned in one of your post who would be available for both my daughter and I for $100 each … a bit more but it would be only the two of us. I am torn between the two … any thoughts ? Initially I thought we would go with Mario because of safety in groups … however, I had ready you site and was fascinated with how Anne and her husband moved to Panama after the filming, etc. Danny Dupuis

When are you going? Right now is dry season so the “authentic” village Anne uses may not be available by boat, and may require some walking . . .I don’t know Mario or about his operation other than what I’ve read on Cruise Critic. Anne and her Embera family are wonderful and I would have no fear of security. Whichever, it will be a wonderful experience.

Hola Richard! I included you on a recent review. Thought you’d enjoy. Bon Voyage and Good Health!
Bob
“EXPLORER’S SERIES LECTURES: One of the highlights of our cruise. Richard Detrich gave informative, well organized power point presentations on the Canal (and building thereof), Panamanian history, culture & politics, a focused lecture on coffees and advise on those planning to find new retirement digs. His enthusiasm for Panama was infectious.”

Thank you Bob & Judy!

OK, I’ve been on the high seas with expensive Internet rates . . . so let me get caught up!

Editorial correction, your grandson’s name is Rian Patrick not Patrick Ryan! Just a reminder for when you meet. George

Thank you George! Your son, my grandson IS Rian Patrick not Patrick Ryan! Chalk it up to too much tequila on the VOLENDAM! Mea culpa!

Do snakes ever appear in or near the house, Richard?

Snakes avoid places where people frequent . . . early on we had one in our outside “deposito” or storage shed. The workers building the house next door tipped me off that they had seen it slither inside. My West Indian woodworker, the same guy who ripped me off for $1000, burned garlic to chase it away. I’d have been better keeping the snake and chasing him away! When we were first cleaning out our little place by the beach after nobody had been there for a few years, Nikki found a baby fer de lance in the corner. But snakes are usually smart and avoid people.

Living in Panama with snakes is like living in New York or Chicago or any other city with dogs and careless people who don’t pick up . . . you watch where you step!

Hello Richard, I enjoy very much reading your blog and perhaps you can help me out with an inquiry that a US visitor ask me the other day where to eat in Boquete/David? Where would you recomend you readers to eat , taking under consideration that safety, location some might not have a car etc? any good restaurants that you can suggest? Thanks, David V

Given the fact that truly Panamanian cuisine is somewhat limited - rice, chicken, beans, salad, bananas or for variety beans, rice, chicken, bananas and salad - not sure I have any great tips. There are a few good Panamanian/Chinese places we like in David. Have yet to find good pizza outside of Panama City - Pizza Italiana when are you opening in David or Boquete?? Boquete has gringo and Panamanian restaurants. A lot of the little Panamanian places offer great food at affordable prices. The gringo places tend to offer great food at gringo prices. Unfortunately new restaurants in Boquete open . . . and close . . . in the blink of an eye. I’ve never understood restaurant recommendations when traveling abroad. To me the fun is in making your own discoveries!

My husband is a retired high school principal and I still have one foot in the school system and one on the curb that separates Missouri from Panama. Since my husband has retired he has been talking about moving to Costa Rica or Panama. We are your “typical” (?) older Americans (56) that wish to live a simpler and more peaceful life among like minded humans without the threat of war, gangs, soaring prices etc. After reading many of your writings I feel like I have found one of those humans.

My husband and his brother are planning a trip to Panama in the next six months and I feel that your website will be very helpful. My question or questions are…our total retirement will be around $1300 per month. We will cash in our annuity to be able to set up our household. Will we be able to live on that amount? Are Americans allowed to work in Panama? For myself, I can’t imagine not having a job! (I have to work on that.) I make homemade soaps and lotion bars on the weekends. Would I be able to sell my products…and mainly, could I order from the internet and be able to receive packages from the states? Does Panama have UPS? LOL! I’m sorry if these sound like dumb questions but as you might guess, I’m the one that is hesitant about leaving my comfort zone. Till now we have just researched Costa Rica and getting what I need sounds a bit more difficult…like working! We are not city dwellers. Will live in rural mid-Missouri where my husband grows organic vegetables and sells them and my products at Farrmer’s Market in the city. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you~~Garland

Whoa Pilgrim! Lot’s of questions! First, you might really love it here in Boquete or in Volcan since we are a rural farming area. One couple stopped by our home for a glass of wine and to talk about moving to Panama and the gal said, “It’s just like being on the high dive: you want to jump, but you’re not sure that you dare to jump!” Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I would suggest coming down and renting someplace for 6 months or so. At worst it’s a nice vacation experience, at best you might discover your paradise!

You can get a “pensionado” retiree visa if you have at least $600 per month pension income. That doesn’t mean you can live on that amount! Just like in the states there are folks who manage to live modestly and folks, usually Hollywood types negotiating divorce settlements, who feel “impoverished” eeking out an existence on $50K a month! If you like to grow some of your own food, and live somewhat simply, and use your annuity for a house, one car and bring in a container of your household goods (duty free for pensionados), you could do it . . . certainly a lot better here I would think than in most places in the US.

You cannot work as an employee in Panama, however, it is very easy to set up your own business and there are incentives if you hire a few Panamanians. I think in our area there would be a lot of women who would like your soaps and lotions if they were affordable and sold directly. The organic vegetable concept is relatively new and I think that could be profitable if sold directly. UPS incoming is expensive, outgoing it is unbelievably expensive. But there are outfits we use to ship Internet orders to a Miami address and they bring it down weekly to Panama at very affordable rates.

I do a shipboard lecture about this and one of the points I make is that people should “Follow the string!” If you don’t follow the string of an idea you will never know where it might have led. And if you don’t like where it’s leading, just let go!

I actually found your site when investigating cruise ships in 1968 . I’m writing a novel about how two different members of a family deal with grief, irony right. I will read more. Another curious connection , I am an international chef on mega yachts , a little different than cruise liners but we both spend alot of time in style at sea. When I am published I will be sure to send you a link or a book if you’re interested. Kirk

Hey Kirk, I will look forward to it!

Nice notes. Anyone been to David? I live in Costa Rica now, but am interested in meeting online folks from there or who have been there. I contimplate moving there and would like to spend a couple weeks visiting. Tom

Tom, I’m not a big David fan. I go there for utilitarian reasons: shopping, dentist, doctor, etc. But I can tell you that David is booming and I think offers some great opportunities for business and investment. I’ve been on both sides of Costa Rica (Puerto Limon and Puntarenas) this past spring cruise season, and I’ve talked to lots of expats who are anxious to leave Costa Rica because of the high crime problem. You might check out http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/ for more on David specifically.

Hi Dick — this is fascinating! I am Henry Kwant’s brother-in-law (Battle Creek, MI). I am 55 and pastoring a church in a suburb of Seattle. I would enjoy being a chaplain on a cruise ship. What does it take to do this? Pastor Pete

Hey Pete . . . “Follow the string” (see above!) It’s a great opportunity to minister to guests and crew alike. Holland America generally always has a priest on board, rabbi for holidays, and a Protestant minister when the ship is at sea on a Sunday. Here’s the link for contact http://www.hollandamericaentertainment.com/jobdescriptions/clergy.asp

No, this is not about the quests.

Nor is it about the crew.

One of the onboard traditions is for your room steward to leave various animals created from towels on your bed each evening. My room steward is Moelyadi, whom we just call “Yadi”, and is from Indonesia. Typical of VOLENDAM crew members, he is friendly, always beaming, works long hours but loves his job, and does an excellent job. I thought you’d enjoy a few of his animal creations.

Two of the many other VOLENDAM crew members who deserve special mention are Indra and Dana, two of the Lido waiters both of whom come from Bali. Indra enjoyed sharing Indonesian recipes for fried dragonflies and termites and rice, delicacies he misses from home. Dana wasn’t happy with the “behind the serving line” picture I posted earlier.

Every day at sea we get copies of THE NEW YORK TIMES’ “Times Digest.”

Many years ago, when I was a hot, firebrand young minister in the late 60’s serving an all-Black church in the South Bronx, I was invited to preach in a number of churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I had lived for a while and gone to college. In an Obama-like moment during a sermon in one church I called then President Richard Nixon a “crook”. Several people were so incensed they walked out and I was the talk of after-church gossip in Russ’ (a Western Michigan hamburger institution where the number one topic seems to be church gossip). I believe the church where I spoke has since been closed, and of course we now know Nixon was a crook.

On the same speaking tour I also had a Hillaryesque moment (Hillary who noted she didn’t stay in the kitchen and make cookies) when I also noted as an aside in a sermon, “Any fool can bake a cake.” They never let me forget that comment, especially when I returned to that same church to get married and the ladies of the congregation celebrated by baking the cakes . . . and reminding me that I had once said . . .

In Panama we choose not to have satellite TV and I get my news on line. So, while I am on the ship I enjoy a steady diet of CNN. So I have been following all the candidates gaffes, amazed that they don’t make more, and amazed at how CNN can devote hours to the most inane comments while ignoring the enormous issues.

As the Nixon tapes emerged we all noted how cleverly and callously he had manipulated the evangelical church and church leaders, including my mentor Norman Vincent Peale, to achieve his personal political aggrandizement. That’s why it so amazed me to see evangelicals and conservative church leaders be suckered in by George W. Bush and follow blindly the emperor who we all now know had no clothes. Not only has “W” blatantly lied to the American people, initiated and endorsed torture, plunged the country into deep indebtedness and economic chaos while squandering away America’s prestige in the world, he has chipped away at the rights Americans have enjoyed since our nation was founded, rights which will never be recovered.

So the closing paragraph in a TIMES’ editorial “The Torture Sessions” seemed to express not only the lament of the past eight years, but the importance of the coming election:

Only by fully understanding what Bush has done over eight years to distort the rule of law and violate civil liberties and human rights can Americans ever hope to repair the damage and ensure it does not happen again.

* * * * *

Captain Sarah Terry is our neighbor in Panama who was the first woman in the US to get her Master’s certificate and the first woman pilot for the Panama Canal. I was delighted to have her and her husband, Craig Owings, accompany me on the VOLENDAM and for Sarah sharing the lecture duties on board.

Like any entertainer or crew member I’m delighted when guest comments are passed on to me, like this one from Doug & Nancy Hortin:

There was not enough space on the comment card for us to express our appreciation and satisfaction of the presentations by Dr Detrich and Sarah Terry on the Panama Canal and other areas of interest. The Canal itself is incredible but the commentaries really were significant to understanding the Canal history and experience. The presentations made our voyage come to life and we are so very appreciative! Thank you Holland America for providing their expertise and for the informative presentations.

In my humble estimation Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities and harbors in the world. Sailing in or out of Vancouver is comparable to sailing in or out of New York or San Francisco: it is awesome!  The picture was taken last year when I sailed in on the ROTTERDAM and it was gray and cloudy, but on a clear day . . . awesome!

So we come to the end of 19 days on the VOLENDAM.  The VOLENDAM goes in for dry dock and then heads up for a summer season in Alaska, and then off to the South Pacific.  In the fall ZUIDERDAM will replace VOLENDAM on the Panama Canal series.  ZUIDERDAM is one of the largest ships in the Holland America fleet with just over 1,800 guests. 

The VOLENDAM’s off to dry dock and I’m . . . off to Seattle to meet my grandson Patrick Ryan!

I’ve been in and out of Vancouver many times over the years.  One of the most fun . . . and interesting times was when I brough my two girls with me on a cruise on the ROYAL PRINCESS while we owned our travel agencies.  It was a dad and daughters trip, so my wife carefully packed everything we might need . . . we thought.  We arrived early in Vancouver so we could take the ferry to Victoria and visit Butchart Gardens.  All was well until we got to our hotel and my daughter Noelle announced in panic, “Dad, mom forgot to pack my underwear!”  It was still neatly stacked on my daughter’s desk chair, which somehow in the packing process had gotten pushed under her desk . . . so no underwear. So here I was with an 8 year-old and a 10 year-old who was horrified to have no underwear and equally horrified to have to go shopping for underwear with her father . . . in Canada where they didn’t have “normal” US sizes.  Somehow we survived . . . and had a fantastic cruise. 

That makes it hard to believe that I’m back in Vancouver . . . going now to meet Noelle’s son.  Time flies when you’re having fun!

Often we have the impression that US & Panama ties began in 1904 when the US, in need of a canal connecting the oceans, encouraged and supported Panama’s separation from Columbia and the creation of the Panamanian state. My neighbor Robert Boyd has written a very interesting article in our local weekly paper, Bajareque Times, entitled “Colombia’s Battleground: The War of 1000 Days” in which he details US involvement and intervention in the affairs of the then department of Columbia known as Panama.

After Independence from Spain in 1821, the Isthmus of Panama chose to become a department (province) of Colombia and aligned themselves with the former colonial administrative district of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (present day Colombia). In the latter half of the nineteenth century, skirmishes between the liberal party and the conservative party turned Panama into a battleground.

Between 1863 and 1886, coups d’état, rebellions, and violence were almost continuous, staged by troops of the central government, by local citizens against centrally imposed edicts, and by factions out of power. During that time, the Department of Panama experienced fifty riots and rebellions, five attempted secessions, and thirteen interventions by the United States, acting under the provisions of the Bidlack-Mallarino Treaty which had been signed in 1846 and granted the US rights to build railroads through Panama and the obligation to intervene militarily if Panama tried to secede from Colombia. During these times, Panama endured the power struggle of Colombia’s most prominent political parties “The Liberals” and the “Conservatives”. In Natá de Coclé on October 27, 1899, while the conservatives were in power, the Liberals led by future Panamanian president Bellisario Porras began their revolt to oust the Conservatives from power . . .

Panama became the battleground to see who would control Columbia proper.

The Liberal forces than took Colon and burned it to the ground at which time the US sent in the marines to protect American interests on the Panama Railroad at the request of the US Consul and the Railroad Superintendent. The US Military presence caused the Liberal forces to surrender again, and another treaty was signed on November 29, 1901, between the Liberals and the Conservatives in the presence of the commanding officer of the US Marines. On December 24, 1901, the Liberals invaded Panama for the last time, with a force of 1,500 hundred, well trained men.

With the invasion of Panama City, the Liberals learned that the Conservative government in Colombia had asked the United States, had asked for help in putting down the rebellion, so they moved the battle to Aguadulce where they soundly defeated the Conservative forces. But now with the US firmly involved in their war, the Liberals had no choice but to seek a negotiated settlement and with the Liberals in a state of turmoil over the proceedings, the Conservatives amassed a large army of veterans fighters, a force of over 5,000 men and put down the Panama rebellion, once and for all. The final blow for the Liberals was when they were defeated in the battle of Nerlandia, in Colombia, on October 28, 1902, and was advised to cease all resistance. On November 19, 1902, all sides met on board the US Battleship, Wisconsin, and a treaty was signed, ending all hostilities.

It was call The Thousand Days War. The photo is of child soldiers during the Thousand Days War in Panama

It’s funny how the little choices you make in life end up having big consequences you could never have imagined.

I was a seminary student in Holland, Michigan and tired of dorm living.  Three of us had rented a summer cottage on Lake Michigan and as soon as the weather turned cold we were frozen out.  I found an apartment in the basement of a home on Lake Macatawa.  It was owned by a woman whose family owned the bank in nearby Zeeland, Michigan.  She was widowed, and like many wealthy widows back in the 60’s, every year took the world cruise on the ROTTERDAM V.  She wanted someone to keep an eye on her home while she was gone, hence the basement apartment usually filled by seminarians.

So I moved in.  Aside from having a spectacular view of Lake Macatawa, one of the great fringe benefits for a starving student was that occassionally Mrs. Den Herder would invite me up for dinner.  She had these fantastic aged steaks and would serve them with Cold Duck and regale me with stories of life on the ROTTERDAM.  When I graduated she told me that the Holland America ships had chaplains and that I should apply.  I did and my first cruise as chaplain for Holland America was on the ROTTERDAM V [what we call today the "old ROTTERDAM].  I discovered Holland America and the  wonderful world of cruising which has taken me all over the world!  And now some 200 cruises later . . . (I’ve stopped counting) . . . here I am, off at sea, this time on the VOLENDAM.

When I graduated Mrs. Den Herder also gave me 1000 shares of bank stock.   Through the years that stock split and split and split and helped finance many wonderful things in my life.  I’d always keep a few shares for sentimental reasons and not think about it . . . and then, when I needed it, it would have multiplied.  Last year I finally sold the last of the bank stock.

So thank you Mrs. Den Herder.

And it all started by renting an apartment!